Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20 Sustainability Report

The Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20 has a minimalist build that prioritizes weight and comfort over bombproof durability. Its thin body fabric is reinforced in high-wear areas, but the buckles and mesh pockets may degrade faster with heavy use. That said, the pack’s simple design gives it a decent shot at a long life if you’re not too rough on your gear.

Choosing durable outdoor gear is perhaps the most effective way to reduce environmental impact—the longer it lasts, the less it needs to be produced. Our proprietary longevity rating evaluates overall build quality based on factors such as materials, fabric denier, component durability (including zippers and toggles), real-world performance as reported by our field testers, and our experiences with the brand. Overall, we feel strongly that reducing overall consumption is a cornerstone of sustainability.

Ultimate Direction does not indicate whether the Fastpack 20 uses a PFAS-free DWR. However, Ultimate Direction has replaced PFAS with non-fluorinated alternatives in many of its products. The company states that it intends to eliminate PFAS from its supply chain entirely but has not provided a timeline for that goal.

The DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish is a product’s direct defense against outside moisture, and commonly contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These synthetic compounds, known as "forever chemicals,” are found in a range of gear categories, from jackets to footwear. They resist water, oil, and heat exceptionally well, making them ideal for outdoor use, but their nearly indestructible nature also means that they take an extremely long time to degrade in nature, if at all. PFAS can eventually end up in everything from soil to drinking water and have been linked to a range of health issues.

Ultimate Direction does not indicate whether the Fastpack contains recycled materials.

Outdoor gear can be made partly or entirely from recycled materials, the most common being nylon, polyester, wool, and down. Some products include a single recycled component or a partially recycled fabric, while others are 100% recycled (generally excluding accessories like zippers, Velcro, toggles, etc.). For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate the amount of recycled materials in a particular product and assign points accordingly.

The Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20 does not include any Bluesign-approved materials.

Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile certification system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A Bluesign-approved material indicates that it has undergone a rigorous vetting process based on the criteria above. A Bluesign Product goes the next mile, containing at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and at least 20% Bluesign-approved accessories.

Ultimate Direction employs several strategies to ensure responsible manufacturing. The company is a member of the Fair Factories Clearinghouse, which provides suppliers with tools for tracking their compliance efforts. Additionally, Ultimate Direction works with Bureau Veritas, International Compliance Group, and UL Responsible Sourcing to complete workplace audits. The company also works with factories certified through the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Program (WRAP). WRAP certifies manufacturing facilities that adhere to safe, lawful, humane, and ethical standards. Each WRAP-certified factory undergoes rigorous social compliance audits every one to two years, during which they’re assessed on multiple principles, including the implementation of environmentally conscious practices. These efforts meet our criteria for responsible manufacturing.

This criterion evaluates a brand's commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing its environmental impact throughout the production process. Responsible manufacturing is most commonly demonstrated through certifications and membership in programs such as Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accreditation of Production, and the Fair Labor Association. We also recognize brands that prioritize local production, such as those that manufacture primarily in the United States or Europe, to reduce carbon emissions, maintain better oversight of working conditions, and comply with strict social and environmental regulations.

Ultimate Direction uses 100% Forest Stewardship Council-certified packaging for its hangtags. However, since that is such a small portion of the packaging and we could not find out whether it is recycled or not, it doesn’t meet our standards in this category.

Packaging can add significant waste to an outdoor gear purchase and often ends up in landfills. Many brands are using recycled packaging and/or making efforts to reduce packaging altogether. For example, they may use a certain percentage of recycled cardboard or make efforts to use less plastic or paper across their packaging operation. In some cases, brands also use Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, which helps to ensure sustainable sourcing of forest materials.

Ultimate Direction offers in-house repair services for its gear. In 2022, the brand’s parent company, Exxel Outdoors, repaired over 1,700 products.

Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption. Some brands offer comprehensive repair programs that can fix a wide range of issues, while others have more limited capabilities. If a brand's warranty policy only covers replacement, rather than repair, these programs usually do not meet this criterion.

Ultimate Direction does not offer any resale or recycling services for its products.

Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation for longer and out of landfills. The most common form is a trade-in program, where consumers can exchange items for store credit, which is then resold. Some brands accept products back for recycling at the end of their life, thereby reducing waste. Occasionally, some do both.

Ultimate Direction’s parent company, Exxel Outdoors, uses the Higg Index to track its greenhouse gas emissions but does not provide any details about its carbon footprint or state any emissions reduction goals. That is not enough to meet our criteria for this category.

This criterion evaluates whether this brand measures its greenhouse gas emissions, along with its commitment to reduction and transparency in reporting. Typically, we require brands to follow established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. Most companies use the widely recognized scope categorization system for measuring brand emissions. Those who earn the most points in this category have emissions reduction goals verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a global organization that helps companies set greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C. To verify their goals through SBTi, companies undergo a rigorous assessment process and continual follow-up to ensure consistent progress towards achieving their targets.

Neither Ultimate Direction nor its parent company publishes an annual impact report.

An impact report is an important step toward transparency and accountability on the sustainability front. These reports vary in form but generally cover topics such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions tracking, waste and water usage, supply chain analysis, and packaging efforts. For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate this criterion based on the depth and quality of the information provided in the report, and how often it is produced. Some brands produce their own impact report, while others are published by their parent company. In practice, we’ve found that reports produced by individual brands include more detailed information about their sustainability efforts.